Pipe-wielding government supporters burst into Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress on Wednesday, July, 5, witnesses said, attacking lawmakers and journalists in the latest flare-up of violence during a political crisis.

The attackers were supporting Maduro against opposition demands for elections to remove him from office. Government supporters burst into Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress on Wednesday, witnesses said, attacking lawmakers and journalists in the latest flare-up of violence during a political crisis.

Hours afterwards by late afternoon, a crowd of roughly 100 people was still besieging the building, trapping people inside, witnesses said. Several dozen people ran past the gates with pipes, sticks and stones and went on the attack.

They injured at many opposition lawmakers who stumbled bloodied and dazed around the assembly’s corridors, witnesses said. Venezuela’s opposition is demanding general elections to end socialist rule and solutions to the OPEC nation’s brutal economic crisis. The government says its foes are seeking a violent coup with U.S. support.

Enemy at the gates: This picture shows Government supporters stand outside the gates of the National Assembly as they besiege the building, preventing people on the inside from leaving, in Caracas.

Pipe-wielding government supporters burst into Venezuela’s opposition-controlled congress on Wednesday, July, 5, witnesses said, attacking lawmakers and journalists in the latest flare-up of violence during a political crisis.

Hours afterwards by late afternoon, a crowd of roughly 100 people was still besieging the building, trapping people inside, witnesses said.

Some of the those outside brandished pistols and some shouted they would cut water and power supplies.

The crowd had gathered from early outside the National Assembly building in downtown Caracas, chanting in favor of President Nicolas Maduro.

The worst-hurt lawmaker, Federico De Grazia, was hit on the head, fell unconscious, and was eventually taken by stretcher to an ambulance. His family later said he was out of critical condition and being stitched up.

‘This is Venezuela today,’ said Freddy Guevara, the assembly vice president and opposition leader. ‘Criminals attack the National Assembly, the armed forces are complicit in this madness, but the people and the lawmakers resist and advance.’